The college prides itself on its sporting record and offers students over 25 different sports codes to complement their academic studies.  Traditional sports such as athletics, swimming, rugby, netball, hockey, soccer, basketball, volleyball and cricket share a place with skiing, multisport, golf, shooting, tri/duathlon, equestrian, sailing, mountain-biking, badminton, waka racing, rockclimbing and many others.

Our aim is to offer sporting opportunities to students of all ages and abilities, from social teams through to national level.  In 2009 we recognised 27 students who had collectively gained 23 national representative titles.

“The Hub” is open every lunchtime and provides students with the opportunity to borrow a range of sports equipment to use during their lunch break.

• Year 9 Activities Week is made up of educational and recreational activities, trips away, displays – all with community input.
• Outdoor Education Week for Year 10 students comprises expeditions and camps to the Pureoras, Kaimanawas, Waikaremoana, Tongariro National Park, Whanganui River, Waitomo and Queen Charlotte Sound.
• Year 13 Camp is a leadership training camp, where students undertake many activities to develop the leadership skills that they will use throughout the year.
• House Sports Day/Athletics Finals days and Swimming Sports install house spirit and encourage healthy competition.

Overseas Sports Exchanges/Visits - click here for more information or visit the notice board.
Groups from the College continue to travel overseas and be fine ambassadors.

• 2010 - Japanese Department are organising a trip to Japan
• 2010 - The Social Sciences Faculty are taking a group of students to Vietnam.
• 2009 - In the next two years the Kapa Haka group is planning to go to the Cook Islands, a graphics and design group is planning to visit North America, a tourism group is going to Thailand and a boys and girls football trip is planned to South America to coincide with the World Cup
• 2008 - A trip to Japan for the Japanese Students
• 2008 – A trip to South America for the history and geography students.
• 2007 - A trip to the Gold Coast for the Tourism Students
• 2006 - A tour to Greece, Turkey and Egypt focusing on History and Classics
• July 2005 the Junior Netball Development squad attended the Southern Skies Sports Tournament in Brisbane.
• 2005 - The senior Tourism/Hospitality classes took a trip to Fiji in Term III.
• 2003 in the September break a group from the Social Sciences Faculty completed a tour of Europe, encompassing England, Germany, Austria, Italy and France.

Young New Zealanders Award Scheme (Formerly Duke Of Edinburgh)

Click here to read the Gold Award Report from their expedition

Report 2009

Up to 100 students each year work at bronze, silver or gold level, making the college among the top participating schools in the country.  At each level students voluntarily commit themselves to community service, learning skills, playing sport, undertaking an expedition into the outdoors.  This prestigious award rewards hours of commitment and is a valuable addition to a curriculum vitae.

This award, formerly known as Young New Zealanders or The Duke of Edinburgh Award has become very popular recently at Taupo-nui-a-Tia College. This year 26 students started at bronze level and 14 are working towards their golds. The expeditions this year have included a variety of destinations with varying degrees of difficulty.

One of the earliest trips was to Whakapapaiti where we crammed ourselves into a hut with a large number of other trampers, sharing the standard marshmallows and melted chocolate with all and sundry.

Other trips included: Waihaha where student teacher, Mr Dearlove , proved invaluable in passing on his bushcraft skills; the Kawekas to soak in the hot springs; the Kaimanawas to struggle up hill and down dale, and two massively lengthy gold qualifiers of 64 and 73 km to Waikaremoana/Waikareiti and Northland.

The two latter trips weeded out the blistered from the non-blistered and exhaustively tested endurance.

Congratulations to all Duke of Ed students on your successes this year. It has been a pleasure accompanying you.  A special thanks to Mrs Lamprecht for her calm  organisation and further thanks to Mr Baxter, Mr Thiele, Ms Simpson, and Mr Tinworth for planning and accompanying expeditions.

Mention must be made of those students who have now completed their gold expeditions: Hayley Forrest, Sarah Forrest, Joanne Boocock, Alex McDougall, Beth Gould, Jessica Stewart, Lauren Stewart, Siobhan Belling, Daniel Webster, Phoebe Currie, Courtney Haywood.

Megan Marshall